How does special education differ in
Public and Private Schools?
Contributed by: Sasha Gold
After discussing all of the possible topics we could research, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to research and discuss special education in both private and public schooling systems. I was intrigued to find out more about special education in relation to education after listening to Dr. Bob Shea discuss the difficulties, he himself, has faced as a parent of a son with disabilities. Prior to researching this topic I was unaware of the fact that special education has caused much controversy. After finding various articles, such as Special Education: Public schools pressed to pay for private schooling from the Chicago Tribune, it became clear that people are becoming increasingly frustrated with the influx of students with special needs that are joining the private school systems; tax payers are required to pay for special education students and are therefore questioning the value of allowing them to be placed within these schools or “mainstreamed”. Additionally, because parents can seek reimbursement from private schools after enrolling their students, many have moved their child from a public school setting into a private school setting. Although I don’t think it is necessarily fair that people that don’t have children with disabilities should be held accountable for paying for those that do, but I do believe that it is essential so that everyone is able to attain an education, regardless of their cognitive or physical abilities. Additionally, after researching the brief history of special education I came across the fact that every child with special needs is entitled to a “Free Public Education” under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Special education is definitely not perfect in public schooling systems either and there is some controversy prevalent within those systems as well. I came to find that the concept of including special needs students into regular classrooms is a relatively new phenomenon that is commonly referred to as integration or mainstreaming. This causes controversy because some are uncomfortable with the fact that segregation of the students will occur based on differences in learning styles and abilities.
Overall, special education is essential as there are many students that have disabilities that disallow them to think at the same level as other students cognitively, emotionally, or mentally and therefore it is essential that they are provided with enough resources to attain a proper education, whether it be in a public school or private school. It is unfortunate that many schools suffer with finding proper staff that can contribute to an effective special education program; however, there are many schools that solely focus their attention on education students with special needs.
Analysis Article: Chicago Tribune Special Education: Public schools pressed to pay for private schooling
Special Education discusses the fact that the “long-simmering issue of how best to accommodate special education students” has been discussed and put in front of other issues by the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Some are afraid that the Supreme Court will cause more economical strain for districts and disallow parents to be able to pay for their child’s education. However, under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), schools should take into consideration the necessity to provide services for students of varying disabilities. Special education students are given a “free and appropriate public education” under the law, and districts must pay for private schooling only if the district’s efforts have failed to meet a child’s needs. In Illinois, 9,563 special education students attend private schools and taxpayers have to pay for this expense, which was approximately $180 million during the 2007-08 school year; the government only provides about 20% of IDEA and the rest comes from state and local resources. Some are extremely frustrated with the idea of Special Education, as one man states, “Where do you draw the line when class size is getting bigger and you only have X number of dollars? When you can educate five kids for the cost of one special ed kid?” asked Mark Friedman, recently retired superintendent of the Libertyville Public Schools. “The community is not happy when we have dwindling resources, when there are 28 students in a class and we’re spending $100,000 for one kid.” Furthermore, one kid was removed from public school to private schooling . Essentially, this is causing much controversy.
I don’t think it is necessarily fair that people that do not have children with special educational needs should have to be pay for student’s that do, but I do believe it is necessary. Special Education is essential as there are many students that have disabilities that disallow them to think at the same level as other students cognitively, emotionally, or mentally and therefore it is essential that they are provided with enough resources to attain a proper education, especially due to the fact that special education students are entitled to a “free and appropriate public education”.
Summary Article: Eric Digest Public charter schools and students withdisabilities.
This article, by E. Ahearn, discusses what charter schools are: they are described as a “relatively new component of the public education system in the United States”. They are basically public schools that are founded by parents, teachers, or others that are concerned with public education systems. During the 2000-2001 year approximately 2,000 charter schools were running with 500,000 students. Furthermore, one of the main concern this article dealt with was whether or not charter schools served students with disabilities. According to the article, charter schools must conform to all laws and regulations, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). Every student that applies must be considered as charter schools are prohibited from discrimination in admissions.
Some of the issues of special education in charter schools include the responsibilities that the law holds the students accountable for. Due to the fact the IDEA states that every student with disabilities is entitled to a free public education, it is essential that charters understand their responsibilities to provide said education and abide by state and federal laws. Additionally, charter schools, like most schools, suffer with the reality of not finding appropriate special education staff and crucial resources. The U.S. Dept. of Education has conducted two studies to examine special education in charter schools and have come to find that some staff at charter schools may advise parents with children with disabilities against enrolling them in a charter school; however, it was also discovered that students received much more individualized attention at a charter school as opposed to their previous school.
Overall, I found this article to be very informative as well as honest about the special education system within public schooling systems, such as charters. I find it interesting that some charters counsel parents with students with disabilities to enroll in a different type of school, yet when students are within a charter school they typically do better due to more individualized attention than schools that they had attended previously. Furthermore, I agree that everyone should be guaranteed a free public education regardless of their abilities, which is why I concur with the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Scholarly or Professional Journal: Educational Leadership Miles to Go
In her article Miles to Go, Marge Scherer, discusses the debates and controversies surrounding special education, including some of the same questions that were discussed 28 years ago prior to the establishment of the right to a free and appropriate public education for students with disabilities. One of the greatest debates is concerned about the issue of whether or not the federal subsidy will ever be 40 percent of the cost to education students with disabilities, as the goal set in the 70s stated. She begins the article with the fact that Congress could tweak the IDEA, and if they do that there might be an increase in funding for special education, a limit as to how many students that can be considered eligible for special education, a longer interval period between Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), vouchers for students not doing well in public schools that would give them the opportunity to be moved into private schooling, and curbs on litigation rights for families of students with disabilities. Moreover, she discusses the progression of special education in schooling systems, such as the fact that today 12% of the school population, those with special needs, are receiving various regular and special services. She proceeds by discussing the fact that almost everyone agrees that children with disabilities have the right to education, which alluded to optimism; not only are we now more aware of how the human brain functions but also of how to establish various programs that can efficiently serve students with disabilities. Unfortunately, due to the increase of students with disabilities more programs will have to be enforced and teachers with special education training will be in great demand.
I found this article to be very informative as it discussed what the U.S. Congress is currently discussing and issues that have caused much debate as well as controversy. I like the fact that Schwerer mentioned that there is space for hope and optimism within the special education system, as many are in agreement that special education should be available to all students that qualify for it. As there is always room for improvement in the schooling system, it seems that programs targeted especially for special education will also be worked on to make them more efficient for students with disabilities.
Editorial or Opinion Essay: The Seattle Times End discriminatory ban on special education at religious schools
Michael Bindas discusses the fact that “The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction will hold a public hearing in Olympia, Seattle on a proposal to end Washington’s discriminatory ban on special education services in religious schools”. Not only would the eradication of this ban be a major victory for children with disabilities, but also it would allow all parents to choose schools that are most suitable for their children. He continues to discuss the fact that unlike most states, Washington has banned special education services within religious school campuses; children are forced to go off campus to some “nonsectarian” location in order to attain the assistance that they need. He proceeds by stating his opinion that this policy is ridiculous and that it “stigmatizes an already vulnerable group of children”. Because of this rule, parents are faced with the difficult decision to decide whether to move their student to another school or to forgo extra help entirely. Moreover, Bindas discusses the fact that three families with special-needs children stood up to the state to challenge its policy; shortly after the superintendent’s office decide that it would reconsider its policy. After months of internal deliberation the office stated regulations that, if adopted, will end the ban on special education services at religious schools. Bindas commends them for their willingness to change their policy, as he firmly believes that no parent should have to choose between attending to their child’s special needs or not just so that they can attend a particular school.
I enjoyed reading End discriminatory ban on special education at religious schools tremendously. This article stresses the importance of standing up for what you believe in as opposed to just sitting back and letting things happen. The three families that stood up against Washington to challenge its policy on special education got the superintendent office to reconsider it. Similar to Bindas, I commend the superintendent office for reconsidering their policy, as I believe that every school should provide services for students with disabilities.
Additional Informative Article: Eric Digest
In her article, Nancy Cloud summarized English as a Second Language (ESL) in Special Education. Since there are limited-English proficient (LEP) students in special education, there have been concerns about how to meet the needs of these students. Effective Individualized Educational Program (IEPs) for LEP students would take each of the student’s educational needs into consideration; these students are labeled SE-ESL for Special Education-English as a Second Language. Cloud proceeds by discussing the fact that levels of programs tailored for special needs students, depend on the severity of their disabilities. For mildly disabled SE-ESL students, programs focus on oral language development and literacy development in English; here teachers apply positive reinforcement and behavior management techniques. For those that are moderately or severely Disabled, SE-ESL programs attempt to provide basic communication skills in the second language for younger students; for older students, life-skill focus that is based on the functional communication skills needed by the individual at home, work and in his or her community. Essentially, an effective SE-ESL program will consider learner’s abilities to learn the second language, such as their individual motivation and learning styles. Moreover, ESL materials must continue to be developed for all levels of handicapping so that these students are able to progress within the schooling system.
This article introduced me to the idea of a special education program for those that aren’t native English speakers. I was unaware of programs such as these, yet it made me glad that students of varying abilities can be served within the educational system. I was also glad to discover the fact that programs for both moderately and severely disabled SE-ESL students are created and also continuously improved for the efficiency of teaching students basic communication skills, among other things. Overall, I think it is crucial that everyone is given the opportunity to learn and therefore am fully in support of these programs for SE-ESL children.
How does special education differ in
Public and Private Schools?
Contributed by: Sasha Gold
After discussing all of the possible topics we could research, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to research and discuss special education in both private and public schooling systems. I was intrigued to find out more about special education in relation to education after listening to Dr. Bob Shea discuss the difficulties, he himself, has faced as a parent of a son with disabilities. Prior to researching this topic I was unaware of the fact that special education has caused much controversy. After finding various articles, such as Special Education: Public schools pressed to pay for private schooling from the Chicago Tribune, it became clear that people are becoming increasingly frustrated with the influx of students with special needs that are joining the private school systems; tax payers are required to pay for special education students and are therefore questioning the value of allowing them to be placed within these schools or “mainstreamed”. Additionally, because parents can seek reimbursement from private schools after enrolling their students, many have moved their child from a public school setting into a private school setting. Although I don’t think it is necessarily fair that people that don’t have children with disabilities should be held accountable for paying for those that do, but I do believe that it is essential so that everyone is able to attain an education, regardless of their cognitive or physical abilities. Additionally, after researching the brief history of special education I came across the fact that every child with special needs is entitled to a “Free Public Education” under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Special education is definitely not perfect in public schooling systems either and there is some controversy prevalent within those systems as well. I came to find that the concept of including special needs students into regular classrooms is a relatively new phenomenon that is commonly referred to as integration or mainstreaming. This causes controversy because some are uncomfortable with the fact that segregation of the students will occur based on differences in learning styles and abilities.
Overall, special education is essential as there are many students that have disabilities that disallow them to think at the same level as other students cognitively, emotionally, or mentally and therefore it is essential that they are provided with enough resources to attain a proper education, whether it be in a public school or private school. It is unfortunate that many schools suffer with finding proper staff that can contribute to an effective special education program; however, there are many schools that solely focus their attention on education students with special needs.
Analysis Article: Chicago Tribune
Special Education: Public schools pressed to pay for private schooling
Special Education discusses the fact that the “long-simmering issue of how best to accommodate special education students” has been discussed and put in front of other issues by the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Some are afraid that the Supreme Court will cause more economical strain for districts and disallow parents to be able to pay for their child’s education. However, under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), schools should take into consideration the necessity to provide services for students of varying disabilities. Special education students are given a “free and appropriate public education” under the law, and districts must pay for private schooling only if the district’s efforts have failed to meet a child’s needs. In Illinois, 9,563 special education students attend private schools and taxpayers have to pay for this expense, which was approximately $180 million during the 2007-08 school year; the government only provides about 20% of IDEA and the rest comes from state and local resources. Some are extremely frustrated with the idea of Special Education, as one man states, “Where do you draw the line when class size is getting bigger and you only have X number of dollars? When you can educate five kids for the cost of one special ed kid?” asked Mark Friedman, recently retired superintendent of the Libertyville Public Schools. “The community is not happy when we have dwindling resources, when there are 28 students in a class and we’re spending $100,000 for one kid.” Furthermore, one kid was removed from public school to private schooling . Essentially, this is causing much controversy.
I don’t think it is necessarily fair that people that do not have children with special educational needs should have to be pay for student’s that do, but I do believe it is necessary. Special Education is essential as there are many students that have disabilities that disallow them to think at the same level as other students cognitively, emotionally, or mentally and therefore it is essential that they are provided with enough resources to attain a proper education, especially due to the fact that special education students are entitled to a “free and appropriate public education”.
Rubin, Bonnie Miller. (2009). Special education: public schools pressed to pay for private schooling. Chicago Tribune, Retrieved from
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/sep/04/local/chi-special-education-ruling-cit--dot--ar0sep04
Summary Article: Eric Digest
Public charter schools and students with disabilities.
This article, by E. Ahearn, discusses what charter schools are: they are described as a “relatively new component of the public education system in the United States”. They are basically public schools that are founded by parents, teachers, or others that are concerned with public education systems. During the 2000-2001 year approximately 2,000 charter schools were running with 500,000 students. Furthermore, one of the main concern this article dealt with was whether or not charter schools served students with disabilities. According to the article, charter schools must conform to all laws and regulations, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). Every student that applies must be considered as charter schools are prohibited from discrimination in admissions.
Some of the issues of special education in charter schools include the responsibilities that the law holds the students accountable for. Due to the fact the IDEA states that every student with disabilities is entitled to a free public education, it is essential that charters understand their responsibilities to provide said education and abide by state and federal laws. Additionally, charter schools, like most schools, suffer with the reality of not finding appropriate special education staff and crucial resources. The U.S. Dept. of Education has conducted two studies to examine special education in charter schools and have come to find that some staff at charter schools may advise parents with children with disabilities against enrolling them in a charter school; however, it was also discovered that students received much more individualized attention at a charter school as opposed to their previous school.
Overall, I found this article to be very informative as well as honest about the special education system within public schooling systems, such as charters. I find it interesting that some charters counsel parents with students with disabilities to enroll in a different type of school, yet when students are within a charter school they typically do better due to more individualized attention than schools that they had attended previously. Furthermore, I agree that everyone should be guaranteed a free public education regardless of their abilities, which is why I concur with the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Ahearn, E. (2001, June). Public charter schools and students with disabilities. Retrieved from http://www.ericdigests.org/2002-2/public.htm
Scholarly or Professional Journal: Educational Leadership
Miles to Go
In her article Miles to Go, Marge Scherer, discusses the debates and controversies surrounding special education, including some of the same questions that were discussed 28 years ago prior to the establishment of the right to a free and appropriate public education for students with disabilities. One of the greatest debates is concerned about the issue of whether or not the federal subsidy will ever be 40 percent of the cost to education students with disabilities, as the goal set in the 70s stated. She begins the article with the fact that Congress could tweak the IDEA, and if they do that there might be an increase in funding for special education, a limit as to how many students that can be considered eligible for special education, a longer interval period between Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), vouchers for students not doing well in public schools that would give them the opportunity to be moved into private schooling, and curbs on litigation rights for families of students with disabilities. Moreover, she discusses the progression of special education in schooling systems, such as the fact that today 12% of the school population, those with special needs, are receiving various regular and special services. She proceeds by discussing the fact that almost everyone agrees that children with disabilities have the right to education, which alluded to optimism; not only are we now more aware of how the human brain functions but also of how to establish various programs that can efficiently serve students with disabilities. Unfortunately, due to the increase of students with disabilities more programs will have to be enforced and teachers with special education training will be in great demand.
I found this article to be very informative as it discussed what the U.S. Congress is currently discussing and issues that have caused much debate as well as controversy. I like the fact that Schwerer mentioned that there is space for hope and optimism within the special education system, as many are in agreement that special education should be available to all students that qualify for it. As there is always room for improvement in the schooling system, it seems that programs targeted especially for special education will also be worked on to make them more efficient for students with disabilities.
Scherer, M. (2003). Miles to go. Educational Leadership, 61(2), Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/oct03/vol61/num02/Miles_to_Go.aspx
Editorial or Opinion Essay: The Seattle Times
End discriminatory ban on special education at religious schools
Michael Bindas discusses the fact that “The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction will hold a public hearing in Olympia, Seattle on a proposal to end Washington’s discriminatory ban on special education services in religious schools”. Not only would the eradication of this ban be a major victory for children with disabilities, but also it would allow all parents to choose schools that are most suitable for their children. He continues to discuss the fact that unlike most states, Washington has banned special education services within religious school campuses; children are forced to go off campus to some “nonsectarian” location in order to attain the assistance that they need. He proceeds by stating his opinion that this policy is ridiculous and that it “stigmatizes an already vulnerable group of children”. Because of this rule, parents are faced with the difficult decision to decide whether to move their student to another school or to forgo extra help entirely. Moreover, Bindas discusses the fact that three families with special-needs children stood up to the state to challenge its policy; shortly after the superintendent’s office decide that it would reconsider its policy. After months of internal deliberation the office stated regulations that, if adopted, will end the ban on special education services at religious schools. Bindas commends them for their willingness to change their policy, as he firmly believes that no parent should have to choose between attending to their child’s special needs or not just so that they can attend a particular school.
I enjoyed reading End discriminatory ban on special education at religious schools tremendously. This article stresses the importance of standing up for what you believe in as opposed to just sitting back and letting things happen. The three families that stood up against Washington to challenge its policy on special education got the superintendent office to reconsider it. Similar to Bindas, I commend the superintendent office for reconsidering their policy, as I believe that every school should provide services for students with disabilities.
Bindas, M. (2009). End discriminatory ban on special education at religious schools. The Seattle Times, Retrieved from http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2009650469_guest13bindas.html
Additional Informative Article: Eric Digest
In her article, Nancy Cloud summarized English as a Second Language (ESL) in Special Education. Since there are limited-English proficient (LEP) students in special education, there have been concerns about how to meet the needs of these students. Effective Individualized Educational Program (IEPs) for LEP students would take each of the student’s educational needs into consideration; these students are labeled SE-ESL for Special Education-English as a Second Language. Cloud proceeds by discussing the fact that levels of programs tailored for special needs students, depend on the severity of their disabilities. For mildly disabled SE-ESL students, programs focus on oral language development and literacy development in English; here teachers apply positive reinforcement and behavior management techniques. For those that are moderately or severely Disabled, SE-ESL programs attempt to provide basic communication skills in the second language for younger students; for older students, life-skill focus that is based on the functional communication skills needed by the individual at home, work and in his or her community. Essentially, an effective SE-ESL program will consider learner’s abilities to learn the second language, such as their individual motivation and learning styles. Moreover, ESL materials must continue to be developed for all levels of handicapping so that these students are able to progress within the schooling system.
This article introduced me to the idea of a special education program for those that aren’t native English speakers. I was unaware of programs such as these, yet it made me glad that students of varying abilities can be served within the educational system. I was also glad to discover the fact that programs for both moderately and severely disabled SE-ESL students are created and also continuously improved for the efficiency of teaching students basic communication skills, among other things. Overall, I think it is crucial that everyone is given the opportunity to learn and therefore am fully in support of these programs for SE-ESL children.
Cloud, N. (1988). ESL in Special Education. Eric Digest, Retrieved from http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-9210/special.htm